Combination artist s easel and canvas carrier



1961 J. GRUMBACHER 2,969,607

COMBINATION ARTIST'S EASEL AND CANVAS CARRIER Filed Nov. 5', 195a IN VEN TOR. Joe vh Gal/n60 chew BY Mil/Z12, Lidy, Dandels A? Marc ATTORNEYS COMBINATION ARTISTS EASEL AND CANVAS CARRIER Joseph Grumbacher, Long Beach, N.Y., assignor to M. Grumbacher, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. s, 1958, Ser. N0. 772,086

2 Claims. c1. 45-129 This invention relates to artists easels, and more particularly to combination easel and carrier devices intended for supporting and carrying a picture canvas or panel.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination table-top easel and canvas or panel carrying device which is of extremely simple construction, involving relatively few components of simplified design and manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination device in accordance with the above, which is effective and reliable in supporting any of different-sized canvas orpanels on a table top or like supporting surface, and further in enabling the canvas or panel to be readily transported and carried in a safe manner.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel, combination table-top easel and canvas carrier as above set forth, wherein a portion of the supporting device for the frame on which the canvas is mounted may be arranged as a handle or carrying means therefor.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel combination table-top easel and canvas carrier having a dual-function supporting device as above characterized, wherein a simple and effective locking means is provided to releasably hold the supporting device in a collapsed position, in which it constitutes a handle for the canvas mount.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved table-top easel and canvas carrier in accordance with the foregoing, which is of sturdy and rugged construction while at the same time being compact and light in weight.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved combination easel and carrying device having the above advantages, and which is extremely simple to set up for use, or to fold and arrange as a carrier, after use.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification similar characters of reference are used to designate like components wherever possible throughout the several views, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the combination tabletop easel and canvas carrier as provided by the invention, set up for use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper central portion of the device in folded condition wherein it constitutes a carrier.

Fig. 4 is a vertical central section taken through the device when it is folded to function as a carrier.

' fig States Parent o p The frame 10 is preferably. generally rectangular, and

is further provided with means for mounting a canvas or panel on the front thereof, part of said means being constituted by the bottom member 11 of the frame. For this purpose, the bottom-member 11 is preferably formed of channel-section strip, having upstanding front and rear flanges 15 and 16, and having a bottom connecting web 18, the rear flange 16 being secured to the side frame members 12 and 13 as seen in Fig. 1. Thus, the channelsection member 11 constitutes in effect a trough in which the canvas or painting panel may be rested.

The frame 10 further includes an elongate center member 20 which is secured at its upper and lower extremities respectively to the top frame member 14 and the rear flange 16 of the bottom frame member 11. The center frame member 20 is also preferably constituted of aluminum strip stock, said member being provided with an elongate longitudinal slot 22 to accommodate a clamping screw and winged nut 23, said screw and nut engaging a horizontalclamping bracket 24 of angular crosssiection, having a front depending lip 26. The clamping bracket 24 is thus slidable vertically along the center member 20 and may be secured in different adjusted vertical positions thereon, said bracket constituting another portion of the means carried by the frame 10, for mounting the canvas on the front thereof.

It will now be understood that canvas or other painting panel may be placed with its bottom edge resting in the bottom channel member 11 of the frame, and that the clamping bracket 24 may then be positioned along the center member 20 and brought into engagement with the upper edge of the panel or canvas, whereupon tightening of the winged nut 23 will secure the bracket and hold the canvas or panel firmly in place on the frame.

In accordance with the present invention, in conjunction with the above structure I provide a novel and improved supporting device on the frame 10, for holding the same upright on a supporting or table top surface, said supporting device including as an important component an elongate brace which is so arranged that it may be folded against the back of the frame 10 and may project beyond the upper edge 14 thereof so as to consti tute a handle and carrying means. The said novel supporting device is further cooperable with a locking means provided on the frame 10, whereby it may be locked or held in folded condition to maintain the said brace in its operative position functioning as a handle or carrier.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 4, such supporting device comprises an elongate, rearwardly extending base member 28 which at its front end is pivotally secured to the lower portion of the frame 10, as by means of a hinge 30 fastened by rivets to both the lower frame member 11 and the center frame member 20. The rear base Patented Jan. 31, 1 961 functions as a locking part, as will be later fully explained. Preferably the rear base member 28 is constituted of channel-section aluminum strip stock whereby it is light in weight and at the same time relatively strong and sturdy.

The frame supporting device further includes, as the above-mentioned elongate brace, a unique, simplified wire part or component 32 which, at one end is pivotally secured to the back of the frame 10, specifically to the center member 20 thereof. The pivotal connection between the brace 32 and the center member 20 may be effected in any suitable manner, as for example by the use of two straps 34 secured to the slotted portion of the member by rivets or screws. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the brace 32 is attached to the center member 20 at a point intermediate the ends of the latter and preferably slightly below the center point thereof.

The brace 32 is so constituted that it has a cross member 36 Figs. 1, 3 and 4, which is adapted to function as a handle when the brace is folded upward and against the back of the frame 10. Preferably, the brace 32 is constructed of a single piece of wire having two elongate co-extensive side sections 38 and 39 which at one set of corresponding end portions are integral with and joined together by the cross member 36, said cross member being in the form of an end yoke section of the wire. The side sections 38 and '39 of the wire preferably cross each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the extremities of said side sections are bent at angles and extend inward or toward each other, to provide pivot portions for engagement with the bearing straps 34. Thus the brace 32 is pivotally mounted by virtue of the pivot portions of the wire being disposed between the straps 34 and the center member 20, as will be now understood.

The brace 32 is arranged for cooperation with the rear base member 28 of the supporting device, whereby the frame may be supported in a number of different angular positions, and for this purpose the base member 28 is provided with a plurality of notches 40, each being adapted to accommodate the cross member or yoke portion 36 of the brace. Preferably the base member 28 is constituted of aluminum strip having a channel section, with depending side flanges 42 and 43 and a center web portion 44. With such construction, the web portion 44 is provided with a plurality of cuts to form the notches 40 which accommodate the cross member 36. This is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

By the above construction it will now be understood that the frame 10 may be supported in different angular positions by extending the brace 32 and the base member 28 angularly rearward from the back of the frame 10 and by engaging the cross piece 36 of the brace in one of the notches 40 of the base member.

The above structure is further so arranged that the base member 28 may be folded upward against the back of the frame 10, and the brace 32 also simultaneously folded upward against the back of the frame, whereby the base member 28 may be utilized to lock the brace in its folded position and whereby the cross member 36 of the brace will project upward beyond the top frame member 14 to constitute a convenient carrying handle. In effecting this, the rear base member 28 is preferably made to have a length commensurate with the length of the center member of the frame 10, and specifically slightly shorter than such center member as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Also, the brace 32 has a length which is greater than that portion of the center frame member 20 which is disposed above the hinge connection for the brace, starting at the point where the pivot plates 34 are secured to the center member. Thus, the brace 32 may be swung upward to extend beyond the top of the frame 10, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the base member 28 may be also swung upward to. extend along the back of the frame 10 and in back of the brace, 32. Thev base,

4 member 28 may thereby hold the brace 32 in its folded position.

In accordance with the invention, a novel and advantageous locking means is provided to retain the base member 28 in the said folded position. This locking means comprises a slider 46 having generally an L-shape, said slider having a front portion 47 provided with a slot 48 accommodating a rivet 49 which is fixed in the upper portion of the center frame member 20. The locking slider 46 has a depending lip 50 at its rear, which is spaced from the upper frame member 14 and so arranged that it may extend behind the web 44 of the base member 28 when the latter is in its folded position, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The slot 48 in the locking slider enables the same to have limited vertical movement, whereby it may be disengaged from the base member 28 to release the same, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 4. As seen in Figs. 3 and 4 the slider 46 is in its locking position, holding the base member 23 folded, and the brace 32 will be thereby maintained in folded position so that the cross member 36 thereof constitutes a convenient carrying handle. However, when it is desired to release the base member 28 and brace 32 for the purpose of setting up the easel, this may be easily and quickly done by merely raising slightly the locking slider 46 so as to disengage the same from the base member 28. The latter may now swing downward under its own weight, together with the brace 32, and thus the operation of setting up the easel is almost automatic.

It will be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved combination table top easel and canvas or panel carrier which is of extremely simple construction, and which is economical to fabricate and produce while at the same time being practical, and reliable in its functioning. The device is seen to be compact and not bulky, and is strong and durable by virtue of the construction shown. When fabricated of aluminum it has the further advantage of being light in weight, and since the device is quite thin, a number of them may be easily and conveniently carried in one hand if this should be desired.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A combination artists easel and canvas carrier comprising a frame having clamping means for mounting a canvas on the front thereof and having a central supporting portion; a combination supporting device and carrying handle on the frame for either holding the same upright on a supporting surface or else for carrying the frame, said device including an elongate narrow brace having a width substantially less than that of the frame, said brace being at one end pivotally secured to the said central portion of the frame, the other end of the brace having a relatively short cross member compared with the frame width, said cross member being adapted to constitute a handle, said brace being extendable angularly downward from the back of the frame to a location adjacent the supporting surface therefor to hold the frame upright, and being foldable upward and fiat against the back of the frame with the said cross member disposed outside of the frame and spaced therefrom for use as a handle whereby the brace constitutes a carrying means for the frame; and detent means engageable with the brace at a point spaced inward from the handle end thereof, for releasably holding the brace flat against the back of the frame, said detent means comprising an elongate member hingedly connected to the bottom of the frame and swingable upward against the back of the frame and against the said brace.

2. A carrier as in claim 1, in which the detent means is swingable. to. a position extending laterally and rearward of the frame and has stops engageable respectively with said cross member, thereby to support the frame in difierent inclined upright positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Nixon Oct. 24, 1889 Tayte Mar. 27, 1917 Henderson Sept. 10, 1935 Jury Feb. 14, 1939 Wotford No". 29, 1949 Wairath July 22, 1952 Tucker June 9, 1953 Sexton Jan. 26, 1954 

